Product Description

Henry Fleming, a raw Union Army recruit in the American Civil War, is anxious to confirm his patriotism and manhood—to earn his “badge of courage.” But his dreams of heroism and invulnerability are soon shattered when he flees the Confederate enemy during his baptism of fire and then witnesses the horrible death of a friend. Plunged unwillingly into the nightmare of war, Fleming survives by sheer luck and instinct. This edition of Stephen Crane’s poignant classic is supplemented by five of his acclaimed short stories as well as selected poetry, offering the full range of this great American author’s extraordinary talent.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105732 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Stephen Crane (1871-1900), American novelist, poet, and short-story writer, best known for his novels Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893) and The Red Badge of Courage (1895) and the short stories "The Open Boat," "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," and "The Blue Hotel."

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put it down!
Style - 3/5
Plot - 4/5
Readability - 4/5

I'm the first to admit that some books will have quite a limited audience and this is probably one of them. However this is a fantasitic story and if you didn't know that Crane wrote it without having any knowledge or experience of battle himself you wouldn't guess it.

It is a good example of trying to atone for the sins of the past by the actions of the present.

I found it very readable and got through it,whilst still being able to enjoy it, in a day.

The Red Badge of Cowardice
There are several fascinating aspects to this example of Stephen Crane's work, in this case most apparant is that he was never in the army, fired a gun or had any direct expereience of warfare, yet this book captures the sprawling, human dynamic of early gun battles in the American Civil war with surprising insight. Through the characters we expore the meaning of the war itself, to nations and individuals.

Though the main chacter can be slightly annoying with his constant pondering on any issue related to war and his descisions when under fire, it is undoubtedly written by a man who's own character is reflected - Crane's own inexperience of all matters realted to the subject he is writing about is mirrored in the youthful soldier's inexperience and intellectual pontificating.

would thoroughly reccommend this to readers of all ages.

Overrated
I do not believe that this book should be regarded as a classic.

The novel tells about the adventures of a young soldier named Henry during the American Civil War, whose alacrity for fighting in the army soon fades as he is faced with the real horrors of war. Every other soldier the protagonist fights with, instead of being given a name, is labeled with an adjective such as 'loud soldier' or 'tall soldier'. Whilst I accept the author was trying to show the reader how anonymous the people you fight with are in a war, it also meant that the characters came across as flat and uninspiring, and the reader never gets to know or understand them.

Although I have not enjoyed other classic works of literature in the past, I have always been able to see past my opinions and understand why they are regarded so highly. I did not feel that with this book at all. The prose was dull, the style did not engage me at all, and I am still struggling to understand why it is rated by so many people.